258 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



are v ery complete masters in the art of working, but they 

 do not yet understand the art of playing" This is un- 

 doubtedly true ; the newness of our country, originally, and 

 some parts of it at the present time, making it necessary 

 for all classes to labor more or less with their hands, and 

 to this circumstance the present prosperity and vast enter- 

 prise of our nation are in a great measure owing. It is from 

 the same cause, also, that, as a nation, we have acquired 

 the almost universal sentiment, that a man ought to labor 

 constantly, and with little or no relaxation so long as he 

 is able, let his occupation be what it may ; and this opin- 

 ion is followed by a practice nearly as universal. Now, 

 so far as muscular labor is concerned, this practice is not 

 incompatible with the prospect of a long life and robust 

 health, and therefore, whether followed from necessity or 

 for profit, or pleasure, seldom so deranges the balance be- 

 tween the muscular and nervous systems as to induce pre- 

 mature evil to either. 



812. But if, instead of depending upon foreign authors 

 for our literature and science if we are to look to the 

 pens of our own sons and daughters for boofe of instruc- 

 tion for the rising generation, and for even but a small 

 portion of the mental food which this vast republic re- 

 quires, then it is certain that so far as this class is con- 

 cerned, the sentiment requiring perpetual labor must be 

 changed, for, as we have abundantly shown, the Creator 

 did not form man for incessant mental labor. 



PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EDUCATION OF YOUTH. 



813. The proper use of the muscles consists in their 

 alternate contraction and relaxation, and this is one of the 

 most imperious laws of the animal economy. If the mus- 

 cles are allowed to remain in a state of relaxation for any 

 considerable time, they become incapable of vigorous con- 

 traction, as we have already stated. The cases of prison- 

 ers loig confined in cells, or in chains, so that they could 

 not ase their limbs, have often presented lamentable illus- 

 trr Jons of this principle. Such persons, without any posi- 

 t' ve disease, become unable to walk, or even to stand, from 

 mere debility of the muscular system. The deplorable case 



